Paralegal, Specialty Courts Unit | Criminal Division

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & holidays

Medical, dental, vision

Hybrid schedule

Retirement program

Job summary

The Seattle City Attorney’s Office seeks a capable paralegal to support the Specialty Court Unit Infraction Team in a fast-paced environment. The role emphasizes discovery, subpoenas, and coordination with multiple agencies to prepare for hearings.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree with paralegal experience or a relevant certificate with several years of related work. The position offers hybrid work and competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of paralegal experience, or a nationally accredited paralegal certificate with three years of related experience, or equivalent education/experience.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365 apps and competency with case management systems.
• Experience handling discovery, subpoenas, and administrative tasks in a high-volume setting.

Responsibilities

• Log and file notices of appearances and requests for discovery.
• Screen serious traffic offense referrals for prosecutor review.
• Order discovery for contested hearings, including video and driver records.
• Prepare and mail subpoenas and serve for experts through Verra Mobility.
• Maintain contested hearing files on SharePoint/Teams and run reports for calendars.
• Assist with infractions appeals and perfecting the record.

Skills

Paralegal duties

Microsoft 365

Excel

Outlook

Word

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Paralegal certification

Tools

SharePoint/Teams

Case management system

Job description

With more than 200 attorneys and professional staff, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law offices in Seattle and is the third-largest public law office in the state. Our office is committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered, and thriving community for everyone. We strive to address historical injustices within the court system with self‑examination and to pursue justice with integrity, creativity, and fairness. We believe working transparently, innovatively, and in collaboration with our partners in the community is necessary to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing.

The Specialty Courts Unit (SCU) is seeking a paralegal with demonstrated abilities, flexibility, and communication skills to work with our Specialty Court Unit Infraction Team to meet legal obligations in a fast‑paced, high‑volume environment.

• Log and file notices of appearances and requests for discovery.
• Proactively screen all serious traffic offense referrals and flag all serious traffic offense referrals for prosecutor review.
• Proactively order all discovery on all serious traffic offense cases set for contested hearings, including body‑worn video, in‑car video, and certified copies of driver's license and vehicle registration.
• Assist attorneys and interns in preparing for contested hearings by requesting missing discovery from multiple agencies, including SPD, PEOs, Seattle Animal Shelter, and Verra Mobility.
• Fulfill requests for additional administrative discovery, including certified DOL copies of driver's license, vehicle registration, and/or abstract of driving records for contested hearings, identity hearings, and impound appeal hearings.
• Archive all discovery in case management system.
• Provide timely and complete discovery responses.
• Prepare and mail witness subpoenas, generate and mail officer subpoenas, and contact and serve subpoenas for speed measuring device experts through Verra Mobility.
• Serve as point of contact between witnesses, victims, and law enforcement officers.
• Submit Seattle Municipal Court interpreter requests for City’s witnesses for all court proceedings.
• Respond to or appropriately direct messages from witnesses, officers, defendants, and/or defense attorneys.
• Respond to attorneys’ or interns’ urgent requests for discovery or missing evidence close to or past discovery deadlines
• Create and maintain all contested hearing case files on SharePoint/Teams.
• Create and maintain all spreadsheets for upcoming calendars.
• Monitor and prepare add‑on cases for upcoming calendars.
• Perform defendant case history searches through criminal history databases and provide results for contested hearings involving moving and animal violations.
• File with the court all prosecutor‑reviewed infraction tickets.
• File with the court discovery responses, City‑issued subpoenas, and other documents as necessary.
• Assist with all facets of infractions related appeals, assist in perfecting the record, including but not limited to obtaining records, recordings, preparing unofficial transcriptions, researching, writing, and filing.
• Upon noticing an error with an infraction filed with the Court (e.g., missing narrative) or a Court’s case file (e.g., a document the Court normally receives/generates, like a Ticket Error Report).
• Contact SMC, SPD, or PEO as needed.
• Train interns every semester on administrative procedures and processes.
• Attend monthly case management system meetings.
• Run current case management system reports for self and prosecutors for quality check of Infraction Unit’s work as needed or requested.
• Demonstrate ability to independently problem‑solve and respond to emerging issues.
• Strong knowledge/skills with Microsoft 365/Excel/Outlook/Word
• Ability to remain flexible and collaborate with team members to address changing needs of the office.

A bachelor’s degree and two years of experience performing paralegal duties, or a certification from a nationally accredited paralegal training institution and three years of related experience, or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience that provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.

Compensation

The full pay range for this step‑progression position is $42.25 - $49.25 per hour. New employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, which is $42.25 hourly. Current City employees' starting pay rate will be based on the Personnel Rules regarding promotions. Advanced initial step placement may be considered under limited circumstances, but step salaries are not subject to negotiation.

Benefits

• vacation, 12 official holidays, 2 floating holidays, sick leave, and paid parental leave, as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long‑term disability insurance for employees.
• Additional benefits include executive leave and eligibility for merit leave.
• City Attorney’s Office employees also have the opportunity to participate in a defined benefits retirement program.

More information about benefits is available at https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits under “Most Employee Benefits”.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a federal program that forgives the remaining balance of your federal student loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments are made while working full‑time for a qualifying public service employer. Forgiveness is tax‑free by statute under 26 U.S.C. § 108(f)(1). Learn more about PSLF and confirm whether your loans and payments qualify. StudentAid.Gov/PSLF

Workplace Environment

The Seattle City Attorney's Office has a Flexible Work Arrangements Policy. Employees have the option to work a hybrid schedule (3 days in the office, 2 days remote). This is subject to change as circumstances and business needs dictate.

Office Location:

Columbia Center, 701 5 th Avenue, Suite 2050, Seattle, WA 98104

Background Check Requirements (Excluding Civil positions)

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the verification of credentials and/or other information required by the municipal corporation’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information on good conduct and rehabilitation.

Who may apply

This position is open to all candidates who meet the minimum qualifications.

The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, family or marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics. The Seattle City Attorney's Office encourages people of all backgrounds to apply.

Questions?

Contact our Human Resources team at [e-mail].